Improvement in whiffletree-cotjfling



I-I. KILLAM.

WHIFFLETREB COUPLING.

Patented Jam-11, 1870.

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Letters Patent No. 98,779, dated January 11, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHIPFLETREE-COUPLING.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same ven, in the county of New Haven, and State of Connecticnt, have invented a new Improvement in Whit fietree-Ooupling; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, andrepresent, in-

Figure 1, a top view;

Figure 2,. a side view;

Figure 3, a rear view;

Figure 4, the reverse of fig. 1;

Figure 5, a section on line y y and Figure 6, a section on line rc x.

This invention relates to an improvement in coupling whiflietrees to carriages, more particularly such as are furnished with whifiletrees for two horses.

Herctofore these have been attached by a bolt passing through the whifiletree-bar or evcner, with a nut This nut is liable to work off, and, consequently, allow the whiflletree to drop, and many serious accidents are traceable directly to this one fault.

My invention consists in the construction of acoupling with a bearing to set into a box upon the upper or under side ofthe 'whiiiletree-bar, whereby I dispensfe with the. nut, the head being a part of the shackle itsel A is the whiffletree-bar or evener, construction.

B, the whifiletrce, also of common construction.

0 is a strap, of leather or other suitable material, forming a band around the whiiiietrce, and carried back into the head D of the coupling, where it is secured by a bolt in the usual manner, the couplinghead I) being divided so as toreceive the strap between its two sides.

To prevent the sides of the head from wearing the leather, I place upon, and fix to the surface of the strap, upon each side, a plate, a, of brass or other metal, so that the meeting-surfaces between the strap and head are metal. r

of common On the head,- I form a shank, E, in similar manner I as for forming the usual bolt, with this exception, that instead of preparing the end of the shank to receive the nut, 1 form solidly thereon a head, d, that portion of the shank between the said head and coupling forming a bearing to set into a box, F, as seen in figs. 5 and 6..

The said box F, as seen in fig. 6, is formed to receive the bearing E, and a block, F, above the bearing, the said block lying fiush with the upper surface of the box,and tliisboxF is secured to the Whittle tree-bar by bolts, a a; thus I am enabled to plate the whifliet ree-bar with a flat plate over its entire under surface.

I would here remark, that while I prefer the constructionpf the box as described, in consequence of its cheapness, yet, if preferred, a part of the box may be formed on the whifl'letree-bar plate, but this would 1.

increase the expense of construction.

The head (I, I make square, or any desirable number of sides, and construct the box with ears, 71, (see figs. 3 and 4,) to support a flat spring, t, to rest on the head of the bearing, as seen in fig. 3. Therefore, when it is desirable to turn up the whifiletree, as denoted in broken lines, fig. 3, the spring will yield to permit the turning of the head, and when the whiffletree is turned up, the spring will aid in retaining it in that position, and will also hold the whittletree in a horizontal position, allowing all the necessary play.

I claim, as my invention- 1. The arrangement of the'plates 11 upon the ends of the straps O, to Form the bearing between the two sides of the coupling and strap, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The coupling 1), constructed with the bearing E and head (I, and combined with the box F, substantially in the manner described.

3. In combination with the coupling D, constructed with the bearing E and head d, the arrangement of the spring '5, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY KILLAM.

Witnesses: 1

JOHN H. SHUMWAY, A. J. 'lnsnrrs. 

